PhilHealth management looking to review and possibly pay P600M for already denied claims — official

The management of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has recommended to review and possibly pay some P600 million to claims already previously denied, an official confirmed Wednesday.

In a congressional hearing, PhilHealth corporate secretary Jonathan Mangaoang confirmed that in an earlier meeting, PhilHealth officials recommended to review the payment of denied claims.

"That proposal was presented by the management amounting to P600 million to review those claims filed beyond the 60-day period," he said.

"There is Board Resolution, but it is still being routed for the signature," he added, but did not identify the individuals behind the recommendation.

He was responding to questions of Surigao del Norte 2nd District Robert Ace Barbers that there were moves for PhilHealth officials to recommend the payment of denied claims from 2011 to 2019.

"If we pay and release the amount of P600 million to pay all these denied claims, hindi medyo may problema tayo don?" Barbers said.

Under its mandate, PhilHealth is tasked to administer the National Health Insurance Program which aims to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines.

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of an information technology system worth over P2 billion.

In the previous Senate hearing, resigned anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia," allegedly composed of the executive committee, stole some P15 billion through fraudulent schemes such as the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).

PhilHealth has since denied such claims and has since suspended the IRM. — RSJ, GMA News